The reverberation time is expressed in seconds and is determined by a couple of factors:
- The dimensions of the room
- The composition of the materials in the room (hard surfaces will yield more sound reflections)
- The position of materials and walls in the room
When the reverberation time is too long, poor intelligibility and a rise in sound pressure will result in the problem of ambient noise. The installation of sound-absorbing materials ensures a reduction in sound pressure and better intelligibility.